© Northern Visuals

Getting Hull talking, one conversation at a time

NEW CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE CITY

Chatty Hull is an exciting new, citywide initiative led by Absolutely Cultured which has one simple aim – to get the people of Hull talking. Listening to residents’ feedback during projects across the city, volunteers from Absolutely Cultured recognised that there was a clear theme emerging – people wanted to get to know their neighbours.

In addition to that desire to get to know people better, it is well established that social interactions help to build stronger, well-connected communities, creating bonds that can transform neighbourhoods and, in some cases, lives by helping to combat loneliness, isolation and depression.

In response to this, the volunteer team at Absolutely Cultured, working with partner organisations including The Hull We Want, Back to Ours, Believe in Hull, Hull City Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, are driving forward Chatty Hull and the invite is extended to everyone across the city to get involved. Chatty Hull will culminate in a number of events across the city on Saturday 28 September to bring the project to life, including 100 volunteers taking to 100 seats across the city ready to get chatting!

Harriet Johnson, Volunteer Programme Manager at Absolutely Cultured, explained: “We have been running community projects across the city for the past 12 months and what really resonated with the residents involved was the importance of connection and conversation and of course cake.

“Entitled Chatty Hull, the idea is that people will feel inspired and encouraged to start a new conversation.

“Everyone and anyone can get involved and it can be as simple as talking to a neighbour you’ve never spoken to before or sharing a brew with them. A small act of kindness can go a long way, making a real difference to someone’s life.

“In an age when we’re spending more time attached to digital devices, having a simple human interaction with someone can do wonders to brighten your mood and if the person you chat to is feeling lonely or isolated, you might just make their day.

“When people come together, wonderful things can happen we want to connect the city with conversations that will continue.”

We are inviting as many people as possible to get involved.

Gill Hughes from The Hull We Want, who are involved with Chatty Hull said

Our communities are full of brilliant people with passion and dreams – building more connections can create bigger supportive networks for all. The power of a connected community is that people are stronger together to achieve a flourishing neighbourhood for all.

Harriet continued: “We’ve created poster templates, invitations and chatty prompt cards which can be downloaded and used for people to start their own conversations, whether that’s by arranging a coffee morning or simply extending an invitation to a new neighbour.

“Pull chairs up outside your house, sit on a park bench, or go to a cafe and start up a new conversation. Who knows where that conversation may lead?”

How to get involved:

  • Download the free resources from our Chatty Hull page to host or get involved in an event;
  • Share what you are doing – on social media or email us at volunteering@absolutelycultured.co.uk;
  • Follow @Chatty_Hull on Twitter and Instagram and @ChattyHull on Facebook for updates about what’s going on;
  • Use the #chattyhull and share your photos.

Small acts of kindness ideas:

  • Pay it forward in a café or coffee shop and purchase a drink for someone;
  • Take your neighbour’s bin out;
  • Bake a cake for next door;
  • Talk to people at the bus stop;
  • Check in on an elderly neighbour;
  • Get together with families on your street.